Wests Tigers and New Zealand Kiwi legend Benji Marshall has clashed with Brent Read, unhappy with criticism of the 19-year-old five-eighth.
Amid discussion surrounding the Roosters' early-season struggles, Read deemed it necessary to "temper the expectations" of the Roosters over "concerns with their halves".
โI think theyโre [the Roosters] a year or two away [from contending] for me, I donโt think theyโre ready,โ he said onย Triple M.
โIโve got concerns over their halves, theyโre great players donโt get me wrong. I think Sam Walker defensively has a few problems.โ
Marshall interjected, โTheyโre not paying him to do that, thatโs what you donโt understand mate".
Read clarified that he thinks Walker is going to "be a great footballer" and that he just doesn't think he's "quite there yet".
Benji wasn't having it.
โBut what do you want him to be?โ Marshall asked.
โHow many games has he played? This is what I hate about you blokes, you have all these expectations on all these kids to be like Johnathan Thurston after their 10th game.โ
Only 24 games into his career, Walker has shown he can run a team, carrying a heavy load for the Roosters in 2021 as they manoeuvred through a cataclysmic injury toll, which included Luke Keary's season being brought to a close in Round 3 after an ACL injury.
Read defended his position, claiming he was only "tempering expectations" and not being negative for no reason.
The Tigers legend continued.
โYouโre saying all the negative things about him when he hasnโt learned how to play,โ Marshall said.
"You're just bagging him.
โThatโs pure bagging: โMate he canโt tackleโ. Ok mate, a lot of players canโt tackle, thatโs not what they get paid to do.โ
As he knows exactly what it's like to be where Sam Walker is now, perhaps he should be listened to. Not only as a great of the game but as a young five-eighth with all the pressure on his shoulders.
